SDCDA We Want You Poster Interactive

DDA Scott Pirrello National Expert in Elder Abuse

Assistant DA Dwain Woodley Expert in Resentencing

DA Summer Stephan

DDA James Fontaine National Expert in Fentanyl

DDA Claudia Plascencia Expert in Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking

DDA Christina Arrollado Expert in Gang Prosecution

DDA Abigail Dillon Expert in Hate Crimes

DDA Brendan McHugh Expert in High-Tech Crimes

DDA Kristie Nikoletich Expert in Complex Murder Prosecutions

DDA Claudia Grasso Expert in Family Justice Centers

DDA Chandelle Boyce Expert in Political Corruption

The Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division is comprised of a highly trained and specialized team of attorneys, investigators, and victim advocates who are all dedicated to the fair and equal prosecution of perpetrators of sexual assault and human trafficking crimes. The division strives to treat the victims of sexual assaults with compassion, dignity, and respect. As a leader in this division, I handle a number of significant cases including prosecutions for sexually motivated homicide, sexual assaults, delayed-disclosure child molest, stalking, human trafficking, pimping, and civil commitments of sexually violent predators. The division is committed to protecting the community from sexually-violent predators through pursuing civil commitment petitions resulting in hospitalization and treatment of offenders found to be a substantial danger to the public.

BACK

CLAUDIA PLASCENCIA

ABBIE DILLON

I’m proud of the DA Office’s legacy of leading the fight against hate crimes. Our office uses a multi-faceted approach to combatting hate in our community. In four years, our office nearly tripled the number of hate crime prosecutions across the county. We regularly conduct training sessions for law enforcement agencies on best practices on the identification and investigation of hate crimes. We also strive to improve relationships with the communities we serve by providing educational programming for the public about hate crimes, including the many victim services we have available to assist those who have been harmed. In 2020, in response to reports of the alarming rise in hate crimes against AAPI communities across the nation, we were the first DA’s Office in the state to create a reporting tool, including an online portal and hotline, where the public can report suspected hate crimes they’ve witnessed in San Diego County.

CHANDELLE BOYCE

I love my work because I help restore the public trust by holding government and those controlling public dollars accountable. Our team of highly specialized DAs and DAIs have built and prosecuted some of the most complex and high-profile corruption cases in the state. In one high-profile case, two defendants illegally funneled more than $80 million in state funding into companies they owned. Over 300 million dollars of stolen public funds have been recovered through our efforts. With our experience and success, we are viewed as a leader in public integrity across the state of California.

BRENDAN MCHUGH

Leading the largest Family Justice Center in the world, a place where lives are saved every day, has proven to be the most rewarding assignment of my over 20 year career with the DA’s Office. We opened One Safe Place: the North County Family Justice Center in 2022 to bring together over 100 partner organizations and provide wrap around services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, elder abuse, child abuse, hate crimes and gang violence. Services are all free of charge and include housing assistance, legal services, food, clothing, therapy, forensic examinations, benefits eligibility assistance, job readiness workshops, financial literacy, prevention tools and so much more. My work is a testament to the fact that in our office, the mission is about much more than just prosecution.

CLAUDIA GRASSO

The San Diego County DA’s Office has a legacy of being a national leader in prosecution for all the varieties of Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse including cases of assault, neglect, financial exploitation, sexual assault, and murder. In 2021, I led the formation of a first of its kind innovative Elder Justice Task Force (EJTF) in collaboration with the FBI to combat the rampant elder scams that are preying on our seniors and now the entire nation looks at our office as a model. There is no greater reward than fighting every day to get justice for those vulnerable victims who often no longer have a voice of their own.

SCOTT PIRRELLO

Illicit fentanyl has become a public health and public safety crisis in communities across the country, including ours in San Diego County. I’m proud to lead the Major Narcotics Division which fights against the harm through fair and ethical prosecution of those trafficking in fentanyl and other harmful controlled substances. I’m fortunate to work in an office that recognizes the need for a balanced approach that includes holding offenders accountable while seeing that those in need of substance abuse treatment, mental health services, or other resources, receive them and are better for having come through the criminal justice system. We have become a model for prosecuting agencies across the nation for our approach to addressing this devastating threat to the safety and well-being of our communities.

JAMES FONTAINE

Since 2019, prosecutors have had the opportunity to lower an incarcerated person’s prison sentence when it no longer serves the interest of justice. These situations include 1) when the person’s original sentence is no longer equitable based on today’s sentencing laws and standards and/or 2) when the person’s rehabilitation efforts have been achieved allowing a safe return to the community. Under my leadership, our office was one of the first nationwide to adopt and embrace resentencing. Victim input and public safety are central to our careful analysis, of course. But as leaders in this developing area, we have resentenced more than 75 individuals and are participating in the nation's first Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing Pilot program. What sets us apart is a comprehensive strategy, helping people with a safe transition back into the community by providing services to plan, coordinate, and evaluate their reentry needs such as housing and substance abuse.

DWAIN WOODLEY

As a team leader prosecuting complex murder cases, I’m fortunate the San Diego County DA’s office provides all the resources and tools necessary to achieve justice. Collaboration is key and the experienced investigators I work with provide critical insight and conduct thorough follow-up investigation. With my paralegal and victim advocate, I build rapport with witnesses and support crime victims during the pendency of the case. I bring our cases to life in the courtroom using cutting-edge exhibits, created by audio/visual and graphic artists in our Trial Technology division. Additionally, all DDAs are trained on how to create persuasive media exhibits ourselves using an Adobe suite of programs. The San Diego DA’s office training program is unparalleled, so our attorneys stay on top of the ever-changing legal landscape, in addition to having recognized experts in-house to assist with complicated and nuanced areas of law.

KRISTIE NIKOLETICH

As an attorney assigned to the DA’s Gangs Division, I am committed to public safety, justice for victims and working to make communities safer. My work challenges me with difficult gang cases that include, conspiracy to commit murder, murder, multi-defendants and complicated theories of liability. Our Gangs Division works with state and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, along with former gang members to train throughout the state and nation on ethical prosecution of complex gang motivated cases. There are as many as 30 different street gangs with up to 3,000 members operating in San Diego County. It’s gratifying when our office can deliver justice for victims of gang violence, as well engage in crime prevention work that steers young people away from becoming involved in gangs.

CHRISTINA ARROLLADO

I’m proud to lead one of the finest District Attorney’s Offices in the nation. I’ve devoted my life to protecting children and families, providing justice to the most vulnerable, and am a national leader in the fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation. I rose through the ranks in this office, fighting for justice and have been elected twice as DA. I lead the second-largest DA’s Office in California, with a staff of 1,000 employees. I leverage my extensive courtroom, management, and leadership experience to set clear public safety priorities in collaboration with law enforcement and the community, keeping San Diego County one of the safest urban regions in the United States. Being a prosecutor is one of the most exhilarating and rewarding careers you can have with a law degree. Every day, our prosecutors go to work knowing they will make a difference. You'll find some of the best Deputy District Attorneys in California in our office, many of whom began as student workers, legal interns or graduate law clerks. We pride ourselves in being as diverse as the community we serve. Take a moment and explore employment opportunities with our office. We have some incredible people who make the San Diego DA's Office an extraordinary place to work.

SUMMER STEPHAN